The Speaker’s Lobby: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Electing a House Speaker

As the 119th Congress is set to begin, the first order of business in the House is the election of the Speaker of the House. This is a crucial step, as the House cannot proceed with any business until a Speaker is chosen. The Speaker is responsible for swearing in the rest of the Members, adopting rules for daily operations, and overseeing the debate and voting on bills.

In the past, the election of a Speaker has sometimes been a contentious and drawn-out process. Just two years ago, it took House Republicans 15 rounds of voting spread out over five days before electing Kevin McCarthy as Speaker. The Speaker’s position remained vacant for 22 days after McCarthy was ousted. This highlights the importance of choosing a Speaker quickly to avoid any disruptions in the functioning of the House.

On Friday at noon, the House will convene to elect a Speaker. Acting House Clerk Kevin McCumber will preside over the proceedings until a Speaker is chosen. The first order of business will be a “call of the House” to establish how many Members are present. The Speaker’s election is all about the math, with the winning candidate needing to secure an outright majority of all Members voting for a candidate by name.

One potential complication in the Speaker’s election is the possibility of Members voting “present” instead of for a specific candidate. This could impact the outcome of the election, especially if too many Members choose to abstain from voting. A prolonged battle over the Speakership could delay the certification of the Electoral College vote on Monday, as the House and Senate must meet in a Joint Session of Congress to certify the election results.

The election of a Speaker is not just a procedural formality but sets the tone for the governing dynamics within the House. It is a reflection of the internal power struggles and factions within the party. As the House Republicans prepare to elect a Speaker, all eyes are on Friday afternoon to see how the process unfolds and who will emerge as the leader of the legislative branch of government.